On the road

Driving to France from the UK, Ireland & EU

Compare ferry and tunnel routes, road rules, tolls and low-emission zones so you can plan a smooth French road trip.

From the UK

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle

Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes. The fastest car-carrying option, with up to four crossings an hour and no weather delays.

Dover–Calais ferries

DFDS and P&O sailings take around 90 minutes. Good for a break, pets and larger vehicles.

Dover–Dunkirk

A quieter eastern port, useful for Belgium, northern France and the Champagne region.

Newhaven–Dieppe & Portsmouth–Le Havre

Best for Normandy, Paris and the west. Overnight cabins are available on longer crossings.

Portsmouth–Cherbourg / Caen / St-Malo

Longer sailings that put you straight into Normandy, Brittany or the Loire Valley.

Drive on the right from the moment you leave the port or terminal.
Carry a hi-vis vest, warning triangle, spare bulbs and headlight beam deflectors.
Crit'Air clean-air sticker is required in many cities including Paris, Lyon and Grenoble.

From Ireland

Rosslare–Cherbourg / Roscoff

Direct ferries from Ireland into Normandy and Brittany. The Cherbourg route runs year-round; Roscoff is seasonal.

Dublin–Holyhead + drive

Fast ferry to Wales, then drive across to Dover or Folkestone for the Channel crossing. Often cheaper but adds a full day.

Cork–Roscoff

A convenient summer route from the south of Ireland into north-west France.

Irish drivers also drive on the left, so the adjustment to right-hand driving happens at the same time as the new country.
Ferry cabins book out quickly in July and August — reserve early.
French motorways are tolled; carry a card or tag for faster payment.

From the EU / rest of Europe

Belgium & Luxembourg

A straight run south into northern France, Champagne, Paris or the Ardennes. No border controls on Schengen routes.

Germany & Switzerland

Enter via Strasbourg, Alsace and the Rhine corridor — excellent for Alsace, the Vosges and the Alps.

Italy

Mont Blanc tunnel (Aiguille du Midi) or the Fréjus tunnel for the Alps and Provence; the Riviera is a direct coastal run.

Spain

The western Pyrenees crossings lead into Bordeaux, the Dordogne and the Basque Country.

Check vignette requirements for Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia before transit.
France uses toll motorways (autoroutes à péage); prices vary by distance and vehicle class.
Low-emission zones (ZCR) in Paris and other cities require the correct Crit'Air vignette.

French road rules at a glance

The essentials every visitor driver should know before the first toll gate.

Drive on the right

Priority from the right applies at unmarked junctions. Roundabouts are clockwise; give way to traffic already on the circle.

Speed limits

Motorways 130 km/h (110 km/h in rain), dual carriageways 110 km/h, main roads 80 km/h, towns 50 km/h.

Tolls & payment

Most autoroutes are tolled. Pay by card at toll gates, or rent a Liber-t tag for automatic barrier lifting.

Alcohol limit

0.05% blood-alcohol limit (0.02% for new drivers under three years). Strictly enforced with random breath tests.

Crit'Air sticker

Order the French clean-air vignette online before travel. It is mandatory in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Lille and an expanding list of cities.

Equipment

You must carry a reflective vest for every occupant and a warning triangle. Snow chains are required in mountain zones in winter.

Order Crit'Air sticker Compare ferry routes

HexaRêve does not sell ferry or tunnel tickets directly, but we can build your full itinerary around your chosen crossing.

Fuel & costs

Plan your route budget

French autoroute tolls add up quickly. For a relaxed holiday, mix toll motorways with scenic départementales: the Route des Vins, the Atlantic coast, the Dordogne valleys and the Alps passes. Diesel and petrol are widely available; many stations on major routes are automated outside peak hours.